Breastfeeding in the Workplace

The Clark County Combined Health District/WIC in a combined effort with the Breastfeeding Collaborative of Clark County are working hard to assure that mothers in Clark County have all the support, education and resources needed to breastfeed their children.

The United States Breastfeeding Committee has stated that, “Breastfeeding is not an issue of making a personal choice between two equally safe and effective feeding methods. It is not something “nice but not necessary.” Breastfeeding is a public health issue. It is a method of caring for infants and children recommended by major health organizations as well as the federal government’s health agencies. Scientific evidence supports that breastfeeding is the best option for feeding infants.”

One of the major reasons women site for giving up breastfeeding, is going back to work. In 2008, 56.4% of mothers with children under a year old were in the labor force. Women are a vital and important part of our economy. Women are hardworking, productive, creative and innovative. Women also bring new life into the world which is our future workforce. All scientific evidence supports the fact that breastfeeding is best for babies. We cannot ignore the issue of supporting breastfeeding women in the workplace. When employers support breastfeeding they are not only helping their business but the health of future generations of our country. It is such a small thing to do in light of the health benefits for the child and society in general.

The Breastfeeding Collaborative of Clark County is currently providing a breastfeeding toolkit for employers that include information on the following:

How businesses benefit from supporting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.

What a business can do to support breastfeeding mothers.

Specifics on providing a place for breastfeeding mothers to pump.

A sample breastfeeding policy for employees.

Resources available to assist employers with questions they might have regarding the breastfeeding employee’s needs.

A “Room In Use” sign to be placed on the door of the designated room used for mothers to pump.

Clark County Employers who make necessary changes to support their breastfeeding employees will be recognized as a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite in Clark County.